Creek girls win big over Swan Valley, prepare to face No. 1 Freeland

If Bullock Creek was looking ahead to Friday’s marquee matchup against Freeland, it sure didn’t show on Tuesday.

The Lancers came out attacking and never let up, rolling over visiting Swan Valley 65-19 in Tri-Valley Conference Central girls’ basketball to improve to 14-2 overall and 8-2 in the league.

The victory keeps 10th-ranked Bullock Creek’s hopes of competing for a conference title alive, as the Lancers prepare to face the top-ranked Falcons (14-1, 9-0).

Creek sophomore point guard Ellie Juengel noted that Tuesday’s lopsided win was a testament to how good the Lancers can be when everyone’s on the same page.

“We just really worked together and everyone contributed, which was really nice,” said Juengel, adding that maintaining a high energy level for an entire game has been a focus for her team lately. “ ... That’s a big thing. As long as we play hard (for an entire game), I think we can be very strong and very good.”

The Lancers held Swan Valley to six field goals, got double-digit scoring from three players, and took advantage of numerous turnovers in a game that was never close and which resulted in a running clock for most of the second half.

“We’ve really improved offensively in terms of pushing the tempo and getting the ball to the basket,” said Creek coach Justin Freeland. “Early in the season, if we shot the ball well from 3(-point range), we’d win. And if we didn’t shoot well from 3, we were in trouble.

“ ... You have to make sure you’re getting to the basket, otherwise you’re going to get beat,” he added. “And we (got to the basket) tonight.”

Freshman forward Alyssa Mudd had a big game for the Lancers, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds, both game highs, as well as four assists.

Meanwhile, Hannah Heldt had 16 points, four assists, and four steals for Creek, while Kendra Shankel added 12 points, and Juengel had seven rebounds and four assists.

Senior forward Morgan McGinnis scored seven points in her first game action since missing six weeks with a neurological ailment which has caused her back pain, among other symptoms.

Juengel said she was pleased to see McGinnis back on the court.

“It’s so nice,” she said with a smile. “I missed her.”

Bullock Creek is still missing sophomore forward Halee Nieman, who has been out for about a month with an ankle injury, and junior forward Kathryn Dineen, who has missed about three weeks with a foot injury.

Freeland said he hopes to have both players back in the next week or two. He added that once his team is healthy, it could be a formidable unit — especially if the Lancers continue to improve.

“I know and the kids know that we’re not really playing at a top-five-team level right today,” he admitted. “But I can see as clear as day that in about two weeks, we might be.”

“I’m just excited about getting everyone back and getting everyone healthy (in the near future),” Juengel said.

The Lancers jumped out to a 9-2 lead and took a 13-5 advantage into the second quarter. As Swan Valley continually turned the ball over, Creek ran off the first nine points of the period, mostly on layups. The Lancers ended up outscoring the Vikings 22-5 in the quarter and took a 35-10 lead into the break.

The third quarter was more of the same, as Swan Valley committed four early turnovers, and Creek scored the first 11 points to extend to a 46-10 margin and activate the running clock. Heldt had 11 points, three assists, and two steals in the period, as the Lancers outscored the Vikings 21-5 to build a 56-15 lead heading to the fourth.

Creek shot 39 percent (26 of 66) from the floor to Swan Valley’s 14 percent (6 of 43) and had only eight turnovers to the Vikings’ 22.

Morgan Stadler and Sarah Addy each scored five points to lead Swan Valley (6-10, 3-7).

Freeland said he has been impressed by how his team has handled its injury situation.

“All these kids who didn’t get to play as much early (in the season) have stepped up and played so well,” he noted. “Every kid on the roster is a solid player, and I’m just very fortunate as a coach to have that luxury.”

Looking ahead to Friday’s rematch at Freeland, Juengel said the Falcons — who beat the Lancers 71-56 on Dec. 18 — present a stiff challenge.

“I’m very excited (to play them again). They’re a very good team, and we’re going to have to come out with our ‘A’ game,” she noted. “ ... I just think we have to play our hearts out.”